CHAPTER IX 

 CORN FOB SILAGE 



The prime means of utilizing the green corn 

 crop is in the form of silage, particularly in dairy 

 districts. By this use the largest amount of diges- 

 tible feed may be obtained per acre, and in a suc- 

 culent and highly palatable form. Since the use of 

 the silo became an important question there has 

 been very great improvement in the growing of 

 corn for silage and in its storage. In the early his- 

 tory of the silo it was recommended that corn of 

 the larger varieties be planted very thickly, and be 

 stored before it had nearly reached a stage of 

 maturity. The consequence was, that, while large 

 crop yields were secured, the high content of water 

 and the consequently low content of dry matter 

 were detrimental both in increasing the cost of 

 handling and the difficulties of its preservation; 

 the feed value was not increased, and wastes from 

 decay in the silo were very serious. Investigations 

 on the growing of corn and ensiling it have 

 shown that the general principles involved in the 

 growing of forage, as already pointed out, are 

 quite as applicable in the growing of corn for 

 silage as for soiling or for fodder. 



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